Temple says no change in status regarding football stadium

A Temple official disputed a report by the Temple News that the school's study of the feasibility of building an on-campus football stadium has been put on hold.

A representative from the Ohio-based architectural firm Moody Nolan said it was on hold in the Temple News story.

In response to that, Temple released a statement to Philly.com.

"There is no change in status. Temple continues its careful efforts to consider the future of a university stadium. That decision will be made by what is best for the university and the North Philadelphia community."

A source said that Temple is putting its full efforts into working with the community, considered one of the major obstacles of building the $130 million on-campus stadium.

If Temple doesn't get the cooperation of the neighborhoods, then a feasibility study, which is budgeted for $1.25 million, becomes unnecessary.

But does that mean things are sailing along smoothly? Absolutely not.

Two Temple sources have said throughout the process that they knew it would be a challenging task to work with the neighborhoods on an agreement. There are many other challenges in getting this project done, not the least of which is fund raising.

Temple's agreement with the Eagles to play at Lincoln Financial Field expires after the 2017 season, but the school has two option years. In November, the Inquirer reported that Temple had exercised its option for the 2018 season. Don't be surprised if 2019 follows.

So Temple, according to sources, intends to fully move on in its quest for the stadium, but even though officials say the feasibility study hasn't been put on hold, the fact that it isn't being done indicates that progress has been slow. And that is difficult to dispute.